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Amazon's Vulcan Robots Now Stow Items Faster Than Humans

(spectrum.ieee.org)
209 points Luc | 4 comments | 09 May 25 11:18 UTC | HN request time: 0.884s | source
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philipwhiuk ◴[09 May 25 12:04 UTC] No.43935844[source]▶
It's interesting how Amazon is embedding robots in human-designed warehouses whereas Ocado has humans overseeing a robotic warehouse.

The later is a much easier problem.

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vidarh ◴[09 May 25 12:14 UTC] No.43935916[source]▶
The Ocado warehouse automation is pretty crazy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssZ_8cqfBlE

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RaSoJo ◴[09 May 25 13:11 UTC] No.43936336[source]▶
Ocado did run into multiple fire issues due to these robots colliding with each other. In 2019 and 2021 [1]

Wonder if the matter has been resolved.

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57883332

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1. kevin_thibedeau ◴[09 May 25 15:42 UTC] No.43938100[source]▶
I'm curious how Amazon handles fire in the midst of their Kiva pods. Do they have procedures for retasking an army of robots to clear a path for humans to get access?
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2. foobarian ◴[09 May 25 16:01 UTC] No.43938312[source]▶
If there are really no humans there they could just fill the warehouse with nitrogen or something. No fire!
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3. kevin_thibedeau ◴[09 May 25 16:29 UTC] No.43938614[source]▶
Lithium battery fires don't feed on atmospheric oxygen. That's the most likely ignition source.
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4. littlestymaar ◴[09 May 25 16:45 UTC] No.43938787{3}[source]▶
True, though the problem isn't just robot batteries burning up, but setting all the stock ablaze and this part is indeed feeding in atmospheric oxygen.